Dual-function liquid pump with integrated airflow control assembly

Abstract

A dual-function liquid pump with an integrated airflow control assembly is disclosed. The pump comprises a liquid reservoir configured to contain a liquid, a cover assembly removably coupled to the liquid reservoir, a pump cylinder coupled to the cover assembly, and a control valve disposed on the cover assembly. A liquid guide tube extends into the liquid reservoir. The pump cylinder defines a cylinder chamber in which a piston is disposed. Reciprocation of the piston enables air to be drawn out of or pumped into the liquid reservoir, thereby inducing liquid flow into the liquid reservoir through the liquid guide tube or discharging liquid from the liquid reservoir through the liquid guide tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dual-function liquid pump, comprising:
 a liquid reservoir defining a reservoir chamber, the reservoir chamber extending to a top edge of the liquid reservoir to form a reservoir opening;   a liquid guide tube extending into the reservoir chamber and configured to guide a liquid into or out of the reservoir chamber;   a cover assembly removably coupled to the liquid reservoir and configured to seal the reservoir opening;   a first air conduit, a second air conduit, and a third air conduit respectively connected to the cover assembly and disposed within the reservoir chamber;   an air passage formed in the cover assembly and communicating the reservoir chamber with an external environment;   a pump cylinder disposed within the reservoir chamber and coupled to the cover assembly, the pump cylinder defining a cylinder chamber;   a piston disposed within the cylinder chamber and dividing the cylinder chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the piston obstructing communication between the upper chamber and the lower chamber, the upper chamber being in fluid communication with the air passage to allow air to enter or exit the upper chamber through the air passage;   a shaft coupled to the piston and extending through the cover assembly, a handle being connected to the shaft to enable reciprocating movement of the piston within the cylinder chamber, thereby altering volumes of the upper chamber and the lower chamber;   a first one-way valve disposed between the pump cylinder and the first air conduit and configured to allow air to flow only from the lower chamber to the first air conduit;   a second one-way valve disposed between the pump cylinder and the second air conduit and configured to allow air to flow only from the second air conduit to the lower chamber; and   a control valve comprising:
 a valve housing coupled to the cover assembly and defining an elongated valve chamber, the valve chamber having opposite axial ends that are in communication with the external environment; an annular wall circumferentially surrounding the valve chamber in a radial direction; a first passage, a second passage, and a third passage, each in fluid communication with the valve chamber, the first, second, and third passages, along with the axial ends of the valve chamber, being spaced apart along an axial direction of the valve housing, with the third passage located between the first passage and the second passage; the first passage being in communication with the first air conduit, the second passage being in communication with the second air conduit, and the third passage being in communication with the reservoir chamber via the third air conduit; and 
   a valve rod disposed within the valve chamber and configured for axial reciprocal movement, the valve rod extending from both axial ends of the valve housing to define a first actuator end and a second actuator end, the valve rod carrying a first sealing ring, a second sealing ring, and a third sealing ring circumferentially thereon; the first sealing ring being located between the first passage and the first actuator end and selectively engageable with the annular wall to enable or prevent fluid communication between the first passage and the external environment via the valve chamber; the second sealing ring being located between the second passage and the second actuator end and selectively engageable with the annular wall to enable or prevent fluid communication between the second passage and the external environment via the valve chamber; and the third sealing ring being located between the first passage and the second passage and engaging the annular wall to selectively establish fluid communication between the third passage and either the first passage or the second passage via the valve chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The dual-function liquid pump of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first sealing ring and the second sealing ring is greater than a distance between the first passage and the second passage. 
     
     
         3 . The dual-function liquid pump of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve housing further defines a first axial end and a second axial end, the first axial end being positioned between the first passage and the first actuator end, and the second axial end being positioned between the second passage and the second actuator end;   a first auxiliary chamber, in fluid communication with the valve chamber, is defined between the first passage and the first axial end and extends to the first axial end;   a second auxiliary chamber, in fluid communication with the valve chamber, is defined between the second passage and the second axial end and extends to the second axial end; and   an inner diameter of each of the first auxiliary chamber and the second auxiliary chamber is greater than an outer diameter of the corresponding first or second sealing ring in an uncompressed state.   
     
     
         4 . The dual-function liquid pump of  claim 1 , wherein the cover assembly further comprises a connection conduit in fluid communication with the liquid guide tube, the connection conduit being configured to allow the liquid to enter or exit the reservoir chamber through the liquid guide tube and the connection conduit. 
     
     
         5 . An integrated airflow control assembly for forming a dual-function liquid pump, the integrated assembly being configured to couple with a liquid reservoir, the integrated assembly comprising:
 a cover assembly configured for coupling to the liquid reservoir;   a first air conduit, a second air conduit, and a third air conduit, each connected to the cover assembly;   an air passage formed in the cover assembly and configured to communicate with the external environment;   a pump cylinder coupled to the cover assembly and defining a cylinder chamber therein;   a piston disposed within the cylinder chamber and dividing the cylinder chamber into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the piston obstructing fluid communication between the upper chamber and the lower chamber, the upper chamber being in fluid communication with the air passage to allow air to enter or exit the upper chamber;   a shaft coupled to the piston and extending through the cover assembly, a handle being connected to the shaft to enable reciprocating movement of the piston and thereby vary the volumes of the upper chamber and the lower chamber;   a first one-way valve disposed between the pump cylinder and the first air conduit, the first one-way valve being configured to allow air to flow only from the lower chamber to the first air conduit;   a second one-way valve disposed between the pump cylinder and the second air conduit, the second one-way valve being configured to allow air to flow only from the second air conduit to the lower chamber; and   a control valve comprising:
 a valve housing coupled to the cover assembly and defining an elongated valve chamber, the valve chamber having opposite axial ends that are in communication with the external environment; an annular wall circumferentially surrounding the valve chamber in a radial direction; a first passage, a second passage, and a third passage, each in fluid communication with the valve chamber, the first, second, and third passages, along with the axial ends of the valve chamber, being spaced apart along an axial direction of the valve housing, with the third passage located between the first passage and the second passage; the first passage being in communication with the first air conduit, the second passage being in communication with the second air conduit, and the third passage being in communication with the third air conduit; 
   and a valve rod disposed within the valve chamber and configured for axial reciprocal movement, the valve rod extending from both axial ends of the valve housing to define a first actuator end and a second actuator end, the valve rod carrying a first sealing ring, a second sealing ring, and a third sealing ring circumferentially thereon; the first sealing ring being located between the first passage and the first actuator end and selectively engageable with the annular wall to enable or prevent fluid communication between the first passage and the external environment via the valve chamber; the second sealing ring being located between the second passage and the second actuator end and selectively engageable with the annular wall to enable or prevent fluid communication between the second passage and the external environment via the valve chamber; and the third sealing ring being located between the first passage and the second passage and engaging the annular wall to selectively establish fluid communication between the third passage and either the first passage or the second passage via the valve chamber.   
     
     
         6 . The integrated airflow control assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a distance between the first sealing ring and the second sealing ring is greater than a distance between the first passage and the second passage. 
     
     
         7 . The integrated airflow control assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the valve housing further defines a first axial end and a second axial end, the first axial end being positioned between the first passage and the first actuator end, and the second axial end being positioned between the second passage and the second actuator end;   a first auxiliary chamber, in fluid communication with the valve chamber, is defined between the first passage and the first axial end and extends to the first axial end;   a second auxiliary chamber, in fluid communication with the valve chamber, is defined between the second passage and the second axial end and extends to the second axial end; and   an inner diameter of each of the first auxiliary chamber and the second auxiliary chamber is greater than an outer diameter of the corresponding first or second sealing ring in an uncompressed state.   
     
     
         8 . The integrated airflow control assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the cover assembly further comprises a connection conduit configured for fluid communication with the liquid reservoir, the connection conduit being configured to allow liquid to enter or exit the liquid reservoir.